Bauhaus Building Dessau

The Bauhaus Building in Dessau is the birthplace of modern design as the world knows it. Designed by Walter Gropius for the Bauhaus school and opened in December 1926, its glass curtain wall and vertical "BAUHAUS" lettering became icons of 20th-century architecture. It has been part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1996, and in 2026 it celebrates its 100th anniversary. For anyone interested in architecture or design, it is a must-see in eastern Germany.

Where it is

Dessau-Roßlau is a small city in the state of Saxony-Anhalt, between Berlin and Leipzig. The Bauhaus Building stands just 700 meters (less than half a mile) from Dessau's main station: leave by the west exit and follow Bauhausstraße for a few minutes. Regional trains are covered by the Deutschlandticket, which makes Dessau an easy day trip from Berlin or Leipzig. Check exact connections on the Deutsche Bahn website or app.

Why the Bauhaus matters

The Bauhaus school moved to Dessau from Weimar, and Gropius designed its new home, built in 1925–26. Instead of a grand front, each function got its own shape: a workshop wing behind a vast glass facade, a vocational school wing, a five-story studio building where students lived, a bridge housing the administration, and a central section with an auditorium, stage and canteen. From above, the layout looks like a pinwheel.

The school was forced to close in 1932 under pressure from the Nazi party. The building was damaged in a 1945 air raid and restored in stages from 1975, with major work completed in 2009. Today it is used by the Bauhaus Dessau Foundation and Anhalt University of Applied Sciences.

Things to see

• The glass curtain wall of the workshop wing, the classic photo spot.
• The studio building with its small balconies, where you can actually stay overnight in restored single and double rooms.
• The bridge spanning the street and the clean-lined staircases inside.
• "Glass | Concrete | Metal", the centennial exhibition about the materials of the building, running into 2027.

Tickets and opening hours

As of October 2026, the Bauhaus Building is open 10 am to 5 pm daily from March through October, and Tuesday to Sunday from November through February (closed Mondays). Holiday hours differ, so check the foundation's website.

A ticket for the building costs €14 (reduced €8), and visitors under 18 get in free. The combined ticket at €29 (reduced €19) is valid for three consecutive days and covers the Bauhaus Museum, the Bauhaus Building, the Masters' Houses and other Bauhaus sites in Dessau.

English tours: from March to October, a public tour in English runs on Fridays at noon (German tours daily at 11 am). Tours cost from €7 on top of admission. There are no English tours in winter.

Is it worth visiting?

Yes, if you care about architecture, furniture or graphic design, Dessau is essential, and quieter than Berlin's big museums. Allow one to two hours for the building alone, or a full day if you add the Bauhaus Museum and the Masters' Houses, where Gropius, Kandinsky and Klee once lived. Free parking is available at the building. Note that the historic buildings are protected monuments and are not fully wheelchair accessible, and dogs are not allowed inside (assistance dogs excepted). Prices are in euros.